Electrical Safety

Electricity powers most human activities and that familiarity blinds us to the real hazards of electrocution and burns.

Electricity is a serious workplace hazard, capable of causing both personal injury and property damage.  It is the policy of Longwood University to protect all employees, students, visitors, contractors and other personnel from potential electrical hazards.  This will be accomplished through compliance with the work practices described in this program along with effective application of engineering controls, administrative controls, and use of personal protective equipment.  This program is based on the principles and procedures and it the 2012 edition of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E standard.

This program has been established in order to:

• Ensure the safety of personnel who may work on or near electrical systems.
• Ensure that personnel understand and comply with safety standards related to electrical work.
• Ensure that personnel follow uniform practices during the completion of electrical work.
• Reduce the risk of electrical hazards, equipment damage, and fire.

This Electrical Safe Work Practices and Arc Flash Protection Program is based on the principle of avoiding energized work unless it is absolutely necessary.  Energized electrical conductors or circuit parts must be de-energized before personnel work on or near them unless one of the conditions applies:

• De-energizing introduces additional or increased hazards. Examples of additional or increased hazards would include deactivation of emergency alarm systems or shutdown of hazardous location ventilation systems.
• De-energizing is not possible due to equipment design or operational limits. Examples of this situation would include testing and troubleshooting of electrical circuits that can only be performed with the circuit energized and work on circuits that form an integral part of a continuous process that would otherwise need to be completely shut down in order to permit work on one circuit or piece of equipment.
• Energized electrical conductors or circuits are operation at less than 50 volts to ground and there is no increased exposure to electrical burns or to explosion due to electrical arcs.

With rare exception, electrical work at Longwood University shall be performed with the power de-energized and locked out following the University’s Lockout/Tagout Program.  Every attempt should be made to place all equipment into electrically safe work conditions before beginning a job.

Work Area Electrical Safety Tips

Electrical Extension Cords, Power Strips, Multi-outlets

• If you need to extend power from an electrical outlet for more than a few hours, only power strips with overload protection are allowed. If this is a permanent need contact Facilities to add electrical outlets where the power is needed.
• Extension cords are only allowed for temporary (day of) use inside Longwood University buildings. This is a Fire Code requirement. Temporary use extension cords must have a minimum 12AWG (heavy duty) wire diameter. Please note that 14AWG (medium duty) and 16AWG (light duty) are not acceptable because there are smaller diameter wires.
• Outside of Longwood University buildings, temporary extension cords must:
• Have a minimum 12AWG (heavy duty) wire diameter
• Be covered by a 'yellow-jacket' or rug when the cross walkways

Surge Protectors

Surge Protectors (which protect the devices that are plugged in) are NOT allowed unless they also have Overload Protection.

• Overload Protection protects the building with a circuit breaker or a fuse that kills power if too much wattage is drawn from the building.

For more information on Electrical Safety email safety@longwood.edu.